The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance (3 page)

She was exotic-looking with long dark hair, olive skin, and almond-shaped eyes. Beck edged out of the way so she could make it past him and his luggage, hoping his mouth wasn’t hanging open. Now that he’d found her, he wanted to talk to her, apologize again for being so careless this morning, but he didn’t know quite what to say.

“Good morning, Alyssa,” Jerry called out. “How far did you run today?”

“Eight.” She smiled, but then she met Beck’s gaze. Her smile changed from open to guarded and those dark eyes lost their sparkle. He clutched his luggage handle. Oh, no. She thought he’d just knocked her over on purpose this morning and then run away instead of making a sufficient apology.

“Hi,” he offered. “I’m sorry about this morning. A little girl was in trouble in the waves.”

“No, it’s fine,” she replied, but still looked warily at him.

She slipped past him, leaving only a whiff of vanilla in her path. Beck inhaled slowly, turning to watch her go. She was even more beautiful than he’d built up in his mind. Even though she didn’t seem interested in him, at least he knew where she was staying and might have a chance of breaking down whatever barriers she’d put up.

She had a slight limp and wore running shoes with a long skirt and fitted t-shirt. Had she hurt herself running this morning? Aw, crap. Had he injured her when he tackled her? His face filled with color and his stomach rolled. He’d hit her hard enough to hurt her leg or foot. No wonder she was looking at him like he’d poisoned her cat.

Jerry reached the top of the stairs and turned back to Beck. Beck forced himself to stop watching the woman.
Alyssa
. Maybe if he hurried he could talk to her at breakfast. He jogged up a few steps, but then slowed. This wasn’t like him. The man who tried to keep a low profile and stay away from women who always seemed to only want him for his looks or his money, mostly the latter. Well, Alyssa hadn’t seemed interested in his looks and if he was vague enough she might not learn he had money until she got to know him.

Jerry had a smirk on his face when Beck reached his side. “Don’t expect to get anywhere with our Alyssa. I’ve watched her shoot down man after man.”

Beck arched his eyebrows. “Thanks for the advice.”

“But it doesn’t hurt to look, right bro?” Jerry slapped him on the shoulder and laughed.

Beck glanced down from the balcony to the courtyard. Alyssa had a phone to her ear, but she chose that moment to look up. Her mouth softened for a second and he thought she might smile at him, but she frowned instead and turned away.

Didn’t hurt to look?
It might.

“Maryn!” Alyssa gulped for air and then rushed out the words, “He ran into me, like knocked me off my feet then cradled me in his arms.” Wow, it had felt good to be sheltered like that. It was like Beckham’s basic instinct was to shield her from harm. She couldn’t recall a man’s touch ever being one of protection instead of blatant desire, and for the first time in a long while she’d wanted to stay wrapped in a man’s arms. “He was rescuing a little girl, like superhero rescue guy, and he’s amazing and good-looking and I am telling you, I can’t do this! I just saw him again. He’s staying at
my
bed and breakfast.” Alyssa paced the small courtyard, grateful no one else was in the courtyard.

“Whoa, slow down. You’re sounding like me.” Maryn laughed; obviously Alyssa’s distress cracked her up. “When did he run into you? What little girl did he save and why on earth would a Richie stay at your dumpy bed and breakfast? That wasn’t in the itinerary.”

“After I talked to you, I was running back and he literally plowed me over.” Alyssa relived the feeling of his huge body surrounding hers. He was so strong she could feel the strength and firmness of his chest through his shirt. “Then he apologized and went and saved a little girl from the ocean.”

“Whoa. And you stuck around to tell him what a hero he was?”

“Yeah, right.” After making sure the little girl was okay, Alyssa had run away so fast, she didn’t know she was capable of breaking the local speed limit.

“Oh.” Maryn sighed heavily. “A bit of oohing and aahing would’ve been nice, but, no worries, actually better than no worries about him staying at your spot. This is going to be perfect! You’ll have even more access to him.”

“Perfect?” she hissed into the phone. “That’s the problem. He’s too perfect. The pictures you sent don’t do him justice.”

“He doesn’t like to be photographed, so they never get great pics of him. Glad to hear he’s even finer in person.”

“I can’t believe you don’t remember… Beckham Taylor.” For such a smart woman, Maryn could be forgetful sometimes. “
I
photographed him! For you and one of your stupid tabloids.”

“What? No!” Maryn gasped.

“His family had some kind of tragedy.” Her mind was scrambling to remember all the details, but she couldn’t forget the sad look in his eyes when she’d taken those photographs a few years ago.

She could hear Maryn flipping through papers. She loved to have tangible evidence of everything and had filing cabinets full. “Yes. I remember now. Give me a second.” More shuffling. “Oh, crap, here it is. He was a huge star in the NHL before his parents died in a car wreck and he inherited millions and not just a couple millions, loads of millions. He quit hockey to focus on managing all their real estate and Jordan’s Buds, it’s a huge charity for impoverished children throughout the world. Wowza. So you remember taking his picture?”

“Yes, as he left the funeral, and you sold them with an article about him and his family. The magazine twisted the pictures to make it look like he and his sister were fighting when really he was comforting her and helping her with her son.”

“Okay, that’s bad, but he’ll never find out it was you. Even if he remembers the article, which I doubt as there were probably dozens of articles about him and their family circulating then, he won’t remember who the photographer was.”

Alyssa shook her head. “This isn’t going to work, Maryn. Even if I hadn’t sold those photos.” She could picture it now. Him hugging his sister as they left the cemetery. The magazine may have convinced America that his family was being ripped apart because Beck was the one in control of his parent’s money, but Alyssa knew how tender he’d been with his sister and his nephew. She hadn’t been immune to his appeal then or now, but she’d forced herself not to think about it. Even though the story looked bad, she’d heard how women still flocked to him. As good-looking and wealthy as he was, he obviously had no problem with flockage.

“You know me. I don’t do well with wealthy, hot guys,” Alyssa said. “They’re always jerks once you get to know them.”

“He’s not a jerk. I promise. He is fully committed to helping children. He’s a great guy. I’ve really checked him out. I mean, not just his looks, his character and all that crap that matters to you.”

“You’re sure?” She twisted a lock of hair on her finger.

“I promise you, Alyssa, this is the guy for…” Maryn’s voice trailed off. “He’s a super-nice guy. Don’t shut yourself off before you even talk to him. Be nice to him and get that date offer.”

Alyssa turned and Beckham Taylor stood at the bottom of the stairs on the other side of the courtyard, watching her like she was a cat who might leap and scratch his eyes out any minute. She sighed. This was going to be harder than Maryn could understand. She forced some gaiety into her voice. “Sounds great. I’ll talk to you later.”

“He’s right there? Oooh,” Maryn squealed. “This is going to be sweet. Ta-ta.”

Alyssa restrained from rolling her eyes and dropped her phone into her purse. She took a deep breath and tried to release the tension in her shoulders. He was still watching her. Go on the offensive and introduce herself? Tell him how amazing he was rescuing the little girl this morning? Or head for the food and hope he came to her? She glanced at his slightly-mussed dark hair and the hopeful expression in his impossibly blue eyes. His jaw line was firm, just like she liked, and from his build she could tell he’d probably been a fabulous hockey player. She darted toward the food. What a wimp.

Piling her plate with papaya, boiled eggs, and a bagel, she grabbed some POG juice and sat at one of the tables. Of course today would be the day the breakfast wasn’t busy. Only her and some famous, hot, rich man. Where was Jerry? Where was the cute elderly couple, Simon and Kendra, who always told her about their Maui adventures every morning? Maryn was exaggerating, this bed and breakfast wasn’t a dump, but still why would a super wealthy dude stay at one of the least expensive places on the west side of the island?

Beckham helped himself to food while she started eating. She tried not to watch him out of the corner of her eye. It was impossible not to look when he marched straight up to her table. “Is this seat taken?”

“All the other tables are full?”

His welcoming smile faded. He looked like she’d just busted his Lego creation.

“I’m just teasing. Please.” She gestured toward the seat. He settled his food on the bamboo table. As his juice tipped precariously to the side, they both reached out to steady it. His hand came around hers. The warmth of his rough fingers sent tremors up her arm. Their eyes met and neither of them moved. Awkwardness settled in quickly. “If you’ll let go, I can put your juice in a safer spot.”

He nodded but didn’t move his hand. “What if I don’t want to let go?”

She moved her hand quickly and he barely caught the juice before it spilt. Studying her plate, Alyssa forced herself to peel a boiled egg and hoped he couldn’t see how he was making her shake. Maryn was so dead.

“I apologize again about this morning. Did I hurt you?” His eyes lowered to her legs and she knew he’d noticed her limp.

“No. You did a great job of protecting me with your body.” Her face flamed red and she took a quick drink of her juice.

A slow grin appeared on Beck’s face. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

She nodded her acknowledgment, her stomach fluttering like it was full of fireflies. Oh, my, he looked good when he smiled like that. They ate in silence for several minutes. Alyssa didn’t know what to say to break the awkwardness that settled in again.

“So, um, I hear you’re a Maui veteran.” He forked a bite of eggs, sneaking a glance at her then focusing on his food.

“Where did you hear that from?” Alyssa realized there was too much bite in her voice. She couldn’t be herself around handsome, wealthy men. Maryn was going to have to find someone else to quote for her article and just deal with disappointment, Alyssa couldn’t handle this.

Beckham’s eyes widened and she was caught off guard studying the brightness of the blue. Caribbean blue, sky blue, or maybe almost aqua blue? She couldn’t quite decide and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his. What she wouldn’t give to photograph him, for her private collection this time.

“Jerry,” he said.

“Oh.” She spread cream cheese on her bagel, wondering if the air was really crackling around them or if she was going nuts. He had this draw that was so exciting she wanted to either snuggle up next to him or hide in her room.

Beckham set his fork down and cleared his throat. “I don’t have anything planned the next couple of days. Would you be interested in… showing me around?”

Alyssa hated that she wondered if this would qualify as him asking her on a date. She wanted to meet his eyes and get lost in the blue again, but she just couldn’t do it. What if he was like Hugh? She couldn’t be alone with a man and risk being vulnerable. If she couldn’t escape from a wiry guy like Hugh how could she protect herself from someone built like Beckham? She could still feel Hugh’s manicured fingers trailing down her neck and then ripping her shirt off. Nausea rose in her throat.

She set her bagel down and mumbled, “Excuse me. I’m not feeling very well.” She pushed away from the table and Beckham hurried around to pull her chair out. He wrapped one hand around her elbow and the warmth of that touch made her already shaky legs turn to pudding. Her eyes were drawn to his.

“Thanks,” she murmured before withdrawing from his touch and those eyes and fleeing up the stairs. The sanctuary of her room was the only place she wanted to be right now.